Fintech6 Jan 2026 11:42
Https://startupsmagazine.co.uk/2026-will-be-a-turning-point-for-fintech-heres-what-industry-leaders-expect
Features
2026 will be a turning point for fintech, here’s what industry leaders expect
January 5, 2026
AI’s role in fintech in 2026 – from payroll systems to real-time pay ecosystems
Abigail Vaughan, CEO of Zellis: “In 2026, AI will redefine how people interact with their pay, transforming payroll, benefits, and financial support from static, back-office functions into intelligent, real-time pay ecosystems. Our research revealed that 92% of employees across the UK and Ireland are experiencing financial stress – so it’s no surprise that the demand for more personalised pay experiences is growing, and outdated approaches to pay no longer fit the bill.
“AI will drive the next generation of pay, with more than half of employees stating they would value an AI assistant to help with pay and benefits queries thanks to their 24/7 availability and their ability to provide instant answers that traditional payroll systems might struggle to resolve. Next year, AI-enabled pay systems will provide the personalised insights that employees have been waiting for, marking a strategic move towards more resilient and transparent pay operations.
“By the end of 2026, AI will be embedded across the pay ecosystem, shaping how people access, understand, and manage their earnings. The result? Clearer pay experiences, higher trust in payroll systems and a more financially literate and confident workforce.”
Nadish Lad, Global Head of Product and Strategic Business at Volante Technologies: “For startups building financial infrastructure in 2026, AI-driven payment orchestration will become the competitive differentiator. AI will increasingly coordinate liquidity decisions, exception handling, and anomaly detection as a unified operation. Hybrid and multi-cloud environments make this possible, enabling banks to run on the platform that best meets their needs.
“Real-time payments will continue to expand beyond domestic systems. ISO 20022 adoption is accelerating alongside mature domestic instant payment schemes, creating the conditions for high-volume international corridors. As a structured, Cloud-independent data standard, ISO 20022 allows startups to automate sanctions screening, fraud checks, and reconciliation processes that will work consistently across jurisdictions. In 2026, a greater number of startups will be exploring the opportunities beyond their current domestic customer base.
“Meanwhile, regulated stablecoins will become practical tools for everyday business operations. Startups can use them to streamline cross-currency capital and enable near-instant business settlements. The opportunity lies in using stablecoins alongside traditional payment rails, adding programmable capabilities that eliminate operational friction in treasury management.